Adjustable horseshoe.



W. A. HARRISON- ADJUSTABLE HORSESHOE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914.

1,147,236. 7 Patented July 20, 191.5.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- W. A. HARRISON.

ADJUSTABLE HORSESHOE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1 914.

. Patented July 20, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH O0... WASllI-NGI'I'ON D, C

w. A. HARRISON.

ADJUSTABLE HORSESHOE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I914- 1,147,236. Patented July 20,1915.

3 SHEETS-QSHEET 3.

COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH COnWASMlNOTQN, D. C.

WILLIAM A. HARRISON, OF NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

ADJUSTABLE HORSESI-IOE.

Specification of Letters'IPatent.

Application filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 839,903.-

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HAnRI- SON, a citizen of the United States, residlng at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Horseshoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to horse-shoes and has for its object the production of a horseshoe which will meet the following requirements: (1.) To be adjustable to fit either fore or hind feet of horses of various sizes, so as to reduce the necessity of using many sized shoes. (2.) To be provided with one or more detachable wear plates or tread pieces, which may be renewed when worn, and if more than one be employed, may be renewed separately to compensate for peculiar wear by a particular horse. (3.) To be of material which will stand hardusage, and be suitable for use for example in engineering or army field work. (4.) To be so divided that it may have both lateral and angular adjustment of its members, fit different shapes of feet, the said members being so overlapped and combined as to form substantially level surfaces at top and bottom of shoe. (5.) To be easily, cheaply, and quickly locked or set after adjustment, so as to resist subsequent displacement under heavy usage. (6.) To be provided with detachable tread members orpads, and downwardly projecting members or calks on the body to prevent slipping. (7.) To be readily nailed on the hoof and the nails so held that they may be readily drawn for removal of the shoe. I

I attain my objects in the following manner:

1.) I make the shoe adjustable by dividing it into sections, each having an average curved outline approximating the average side curve of different sizes of hoof. As there is not as much variation in these side curves as there is in the toe, this is not diiiicult. Each section is cut away fore and aft and the two are fitted'together so as to permit sliding adjustment to and frfomeach other for width, and rocking adjustment on a pivotal center closing the fore and aft openings and changing the angle of tangent of the side curves for shape.

(2.) I arrange the separate wear plates with downwardly projecting points or calks and the body flanges'or fingerseXtending into engagement with cleats or flanges on the undersidelof the body sections of the shoe. Where two of these are employed fore with converging Patented July 20, 1915.

and aft, they may be separately removed'as I v edges extending inward from the ends thereof, so as to form two-segmental'elements,

with preferably 'a, pinand slot connection and rivet holes inoneof them near. the points of the angles. These inner points overlap, and as the twoparts turn more or less upon each other to shift the curves forward or aft to accommodate different shapes of feet, the .convergingsides approach to or recede from each other and when closed together overlap and lie flat one upon the other.

(5.) Afteradjustment, the'two halves are preferably riveted together, the rivet extending through the holes already mentioned in one segment, and through registering holes punched or drilled in. the other segment. When thus riveted and the outside edges nailed to the hoof, the shoe is as firm and resists either displacement or disturbance of its adjustment as well as a solid shoe.

(6.) The tread members are made detachable by fitting-them to and holding them in position by the projecting cleats or calks on the bottom of the body. By taking these off, the cleats or calks or wear pieces attached thereto serve to prevent slipping.

(7.) The wear pads or treads. are so-adjusted as to expose the heads of the nails by preference and in any case the heads'are not countersunk, whereby withdrawn. Wear on by the downwardly projecting cleats or calks on the body, whenrin position.

My invention is shown ing drawings in whichi they may be readily in the accompanygiig ll'fi l is a top plan view f Qlle of. the-" 9 the nails is prevented? and by the tread or wear pad adjustable members of my improved shoe. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the complementary adjustable member. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the shoe adjusted ready to be fixed permanently in the adjusted shape. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4+4 .of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified means of adjustment. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the shoe shown in Figs. 1 to 5, with tread pieces applied. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of another form of shoe and'tread piece fastening means embodying my invention. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of my improved shoe fitted with a unitary tread piece.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and B are two complementary sections of the shoe, which are preferably punched out of flat metal, such as iron or steel, and formed up as shown, with side cleats or short flanges 60, to engage the sides of the horses hoofs, and also withdownwardly projecting cleats 5-5. The outside edge of each member is perforated at 31 for nails to be inserted after the usual. fashion, but with this difierence, that in using my construction it is unnecessary to countersink the heads of the nails, which may project below the body of the shoe, and thereby afford an easy grip for a tool to withdraw them as occasion requires. The sections may be and preferably are provided with toe and heel calks 50. The section B is provided with a slot 1, and the section A is punched with three holes 2, 3 and 4. The

two parts are placed together as shown in Fig. 3, which is a View of the under side of the shoe, the parts in Figs. 1 and 2 being thus turned upside down. A stud or rivet 14, (which may also be made as a thumb nut and bolt 15 in Fig. 6) is inserted through the slot 1 of part B and the hole 2 of part A. This enables the parts to be moved laterally to and from each other, to adjust for different widths of hoof, and also to be turned around the stud 14 as a center so as to change the angle of tangents to the side curves. If the upper parts of the sections as seen in Fig. 3 are brought toward each other, at 10 and 11, then the lower faces or edges at 12 and 13 are separated from each other and vice versa. Thus any width, and practically any shape and curvature of hoof may be accommodated. When the final adjustment is secured, the shoe is slipped 0d, the parts being held either by friction against the stud 14, or clamping by the thumb screw 15, or otherwise, and then complementary holes 30 and 40 are drilled in the part B to register with the holes 3 and 4 in the part A, and finally rivets are inserted in these holes and firmly headed up. At the same tme, if the stud 14 is in the form of a rivet, this may be more firmly headed up, so as to assist in locking the parts together. If necessary or desirable, a washer may be inserted beneath the head of the rivet 14 to cover the slot 1.

It will be observed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that I have shown fore and aft cleats 6, 7, 8 and 9 projecting downwardly from the two sections. These are in line with each other in any adjustment of the sections, although their flat faces may occupy relatively varying angles. The purpose of these cleats is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8. In Fig. 4 a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3 shows the cleats 7 and 9 projecting downwardly, and 5 which is a side view shows 8 and 9 each of which has a lateral opening through it to receive a key 22 or 23 as the case may be. The purpose of these keys is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in both of which the tread member or pad is dis layed. In Fig. 7 this is shown in dotted lines, consisting of the two halves 17 and 37. This pad may be composed of any suitable material, and T have experimented with a number of materials, among which I may name as satisfactory for the purpose, rope and rubber, which is an artificial composition having suitable resiliency and resistance to wear. Each portion of the pad receives a part of the cleats in its body, and each portion 7) as a reinforcing sheathing 18 or 19 secured upon it, beneath which are formed he transverse openings to receive the keys 22 and 23. The two halves of this pad are separated by a transverse wedge or distance piece of resilient material such as rubber, and they are secured together against longitudinal displacement by any suitable clamping or linking means, but in the form herein shown by means of a staple 52, the two legs of which are inserted through pockets 49 and 51 formed in the sheathing or outer portions of the sections 17 and 37 respectively.

It will be noted in Figs 7 and 8 both, that the downwardly projecting cleats or fingers 5 are also received into the body of the pad or wear plate, and serve to prevent any torsional displacement or strain.

In Fig. 9 T have shown a modification in which the cleats 43, 44, 45 and 46 engage diagonally with the inclined edges of the sheathing members, which in this case are not provided with any covering pad or separate wear plate.

Fig. 10 is a further modification, in which a single pad or wear plate fits onto the shoe being held from turning by the studs 55 and secured in position by means of the thumb nut 58 secured onto the stud 59 extending from the body of the shoe, and bearing upon a large washer 57 which rests upon the surface of the plate.

A very important feature of the dividedpad lies in this that either part can be renewed and a new part fitted. to the shoe Without removing the other. The importance of this will be understood when it is.

In any of the forms herein shown, the pads would be cut or fitted after the sh'oe'isadjusted, and may be replaced when worn without removing the shoe from the hoof. This may be accomplished preferably by fitting new pads prepared the time the shoe set. The pads are preferably made in sets to fit different sizes of hoofs. In any case the pad is smaller in diameter than the shoe so as to expose the nail heads for the purpose of fastening or unfastening the shoe when required.

I am aware that numerous changes in matters of detail may be made in the shoe or its fittings as I have herein described them, hence I wish my'description to be taken as specific for purposes of definition only and not for purposes of limitation.

It should be clearly understood that I contemplate and may include any and all non-essential modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention and which fairly fall within the scope of the ap pended claims. For example, the wedge separating the two halves of the pad may be made of steel or other hard substance such as wood, the resilience required being furnished by the body of the pad, or by a separate insertion of a resilient substance such as strip of sheet rubber between the pad and the wedge.

In the appended claims I shall use the words central, or center of the shoe, to indicate the position of the point about which the sections are adjusted. It will of course be understood that I do not mean by this the exact mathematical center, but a point within the borders of the shoe, and at neither the toe nor the heel. Shoes have been heretofore described and patented having sections pivoted together at the toe, but such pivoting is impracticable for my purpose, as it changes the outline of the shoe in adjustment, and does not permit any movement about the center. These claims are not to be construed therefore as reading upon structures such as that described in Letters Patent to Kromm No. 845,649, Spangler No. 1,008,214 or the like, but they are to be construed as covering any form of shoe involving the principle of central or intermediate adjustment and locking, which I believe to e original t 116.

' Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-v ent is:

1. An. adjustable horse-shoe composed. of

a plurality of sections each havinga curved outline on one-side approximating the" average curves of different sizes of hoofs,

each section cut away to permit angular ad justment about a point approximately at the center of the shoe as a whole, and means at said center for adjustably securing said sec-.

tions together.

2. An adjustable horseshoe composed-of a plurality of sections each having a curved outline on one 's1de "approximating the average curves of different sizes of hoofs,

each section cut away to permit angular ad j ustment about a point approximately at the center, with intermediate portions of the sections overlapping at the center of the shoe, and securing means at the center engaging said intermediate portions together.

3. An adjustable horse-shoe composed of a pair of sections curved on the outside and of general segmental shapewith the inside projecting portions overlapping at the center of the shoe but cut away fore and aft, and means for fitting the sections together so as to permit a sliding adjustment to and from each other for width and rocking adjustmentona pivot at the center for closing the fore or aft openings and changing the angle of tangent of side curves for shape.

4. A horse-shoecomprising a fiat body adapted to underlie substantially the entire hoof and having downwardly projecting cleats or flanges on its underside in combination with a separate wear plate extending across the shoe, carrying calks and having flanges or fingers extending into engagement with the cleats or flanges on the underside of the body of the shoe.

5. A horse-shoe having a bodyof iron or steel extending substantially across and beneath the hoof and a tread or pad underlying and covering the same, the said body having downwardly projecting cleats or flanges extending into and engaging said tread.

6. An adjustable horse-shoe composed of a pair of flat segments each having its outer 1 &

i rivets'or equivalent securing devices engaging both the overlapping engaging portions and securing them rigidly together after adjustmen 8. A horse-shoe having a body portion it with downwardly projecting cleats or eyes,

a Wear pad or tread fitted to the under part Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the menace of said body and receiving the cleats or eyes in its body, and one or more transverse keys extending through said body of the Wear pad and through secure the pad firmly to the body of the shoe. In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HARRISON. Witnesses:

EDWARD E. CLEMENT, J AMEs H. MARK.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

the eyes or cleats so as to 

